Why Antimicrobial Cards? Once circulated in the public, plastic cards are apt to harbor germs

Why Antimicrobial Cards? Once circulated in the public, plastic cards are apt to harbor germs. You cannot always control who has handles your cards. Since you cannot control behaviors, you have to control the surface that the germ lands on, the contaminator that you may come in contact with. Why not make the plastic PVC card out of antimicrobial plastic?

An analysis of workers at Monash Medical Centre showed that badges carried pathogenic bacteria, according to research published in the Medical Journal of Australia. The Researchers collected samples from the surface, edge and connections of badges worn by 53 nurses and 18 doctors. They isolated 18 pathogens from badges. Of the microbes isolated overall, seven were the 'superbug' methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); 29 were methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA); four were enterococci and five were aerobic gram-negative bacilli.

In the case of credit cards, hotel keys, or membership rewards cards, plastic can accumulate germs just as fast as cash. According to Llelwyn Grant of the Centers for Disease Control, "Any surface could contribute to the passing of the virus, which typically will live up to six to eight hours after contact has been made."

A simple solution to controlling bacteria on your credit cards and ID badges! Information about how germs and microbes remain on the surface or your cards or employee badges. My hope is that one day the manufactures of these cards will take action, not just put an overlay on the card, that will rub away, but make the card out of antimicrobial plastic pellets that would be impregnated with the antimicrobial agent, the more you rub it, the antimicrobial agent would come to the surface and help kill dangerous pathogens. Ask your card provider why they don't request that the cards be made of antimicrobial material.